:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/A7BDSUTBONFNNNG5AFHIJGDOGY.jpg "The assistant who gave Alec Baldwin the loaded gun with which he caused a death during the filming of “Rust” was sentenced to the maximum sentence")
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons manager on the film production of “Rust”, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the tragic incident where Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins. Gutierrez-Reed has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, marking her as the first crew member to be convicted for her role in the fatal shooting.
The verdict was handed down by Santa Fe Judge, Mary Sommer, following a jury finding Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico is 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Despite Gutierrez-Reed’s request for probation instead of prison time, Judge Sommer cited her lack of remorse and failure to take responsibility for her actions as factors in the sentencing.
During the trial, Gutierrez-Reed claimed to have taken her job seriously despite inadequate resources and time constraints. She also expressed her sorrow for the pain caused to Hutchins’ family and friends by the tragedy. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued for the maximum sentence, attributing Hutchins’ death to a “cascade of errors on set” and criticizing Gutierrez-Reed for not acknowledging her role in the events leading up to the shooting.
The incident, which occurred on the set of “Rust” on October 21, 2021, involved Alec Baldwin firing a gun during a rehearsal. Five live cartridges were found mixed with dummy rounds on set, raising questions about safety protocols and negligence in handling weapons and ammunition. Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction sets a precedent for potential criminal liability in cases of production negligence and could impact Baldwin’s upcoming manslaughter trial scheduled for July.
The ruling in Gutierrez-Reed’s case has sparked conversations about safety standards in the film industry and the responsibilities of crew members and producers. The tragic death of Halyna Hutchins has brought to light the need for improved safety measures on film sets to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The outcome of Gutierrez-Reed’s trial serves as a warning to all industry professionals about the importance of upholding safety protocols to protect everyone involved in film productions.